SAT scores for high school seniors dropped again this year, continuing a decade-long trend, according to data released today. SAT averages declined by 34 points since 2006. That is the year when the “No Child Left Behind” public school testing mandate went into effect. Score differences between racial groups increased, often significantly, over that period.

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), said, “Test-and-punish public school policies have clearly failed. As measured by the SAT, the 'No Child Left Behind' era did nothing to improve college readiness or narrow racial gaps. In fact, average SAT Scores dropped from 2006 levels for every group except Asian-Americans. The ACT admissions exam and the National Assessment of Educational Progress show similar trends.”

The number of students taking SAT Subject Tests and the volume of those exams administered also declined. “Over the past five years, 24% fewer high school grads sat for any SAT Subject tests,” Schaeffer explained. “That cost the College Board, the exam’s owner, millions in lost revenue.”

Schaeffer continued, “Fortunately, many more colleges and universities recognize that they do not need SAT scores – from the old exam, the ‘redesigned’ version, or subject tests – to make quality admissions decisions. Over the last twelve months, 32 more schools dropped ACT/SAT requirements for all or many applicants. That’s the fastest annual test-optional growth ever.” A list of 870 institutions that de-emphasize admissions tests is posted athttp://www.fairtest.org/university/optional.

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2016 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS SAT SCORES

READING

MATH

WRITING

TOTAL

ALL TEST-TAKERS

494

508

482

1484

Female

493

494

487

1474

Male

495

524

475

1494

Amer. Indian or Alaskan Native

468

471

447

1386

Asian, Asian Amer. or Pacific Islander

529

602

534

1665

Black or African American

430

425

415

1270

Hispanic, Latino or Latin American

448

453

436

1337

Two or more races, non-Hispanic

511

505

488

1514

Other

496

519

491

1506

White

528

533

511

1572

2016 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS SAT SCORES BY FAMILY INCOME

READING

MATH

WRITING

TOTAL

$ 0 - $20,000

435

453

426

1314

$20,000 - $40,000

465

477

452

1394

$40,000 - $60,000

488

495

471

1454

$60,000 - $80,000

503

509

485

1497

$80,000 - $100,000

517

527

501

1545

$100,000 - $140,000

530

539

513

1582

$140,000 - $200,000

542

553

528

1623

More than $200,000

569

586

562

1717

Calculated by FairTest from: College Board, College-Bound Seniors 2016: Total Group Profile Report